Knowing personally some of the restaurants in a sample of three or four cities where I use Open Table regularly, I'd disagree with this - I know in Dallas, I've seen some excellent places pop up with 1,000 point specials from time to time.

One restaurant owner I know said he uses it to pad times in the dining room when he KNOWS he will be slow based on historic trend. In the case of my friend, he said he can regularly count on a dinner crowd from 7 pm to 9 pm and a post theatre crowd from 10 pm and onward. Since the dining room opens at 5:30 pm, he'll run 1,000 points from 5:30 to 6:30 to keep the staff occupied and to have the place not look dead when the 7 pm crowd shows up - and again he'll run a 9 pm to 10 pm one on nights he plans to stay open late for the theatre crowd so that the party appears to still be in "full swing" when that group arrives at 10 pm.

I think of the "timed" specials (i.e. not running them all the time) to be the restaurant version of "seat fillers" at the Oscars - its a small price to pay to make your regulars feel like the place is always "hot".

Only 1500 points so far. Got 1000 points once. I forget to use Open Table and call for reservations. I'll try to accumulate more because I'll Open Table for an upcoming trip to Las Vegas. Some of the restaurants that I want to reserve do not allow me to reserve on Open Table for those dates yet. First time I've come across that limitation.

Most restaurants are on a rolling 90-day calendar.

ETA: I read in another thread that French Laundry and Per Se use a 60 or 61 day basis.

I've been using OT for many years (I'm in Atlanta), and have never actually signed up to earn points. Had I done so at the outset I'd have earned many thousands of points by now, but as was mentioned upthread the points weren't nearly so much of a lure as the convenience of the service.

Does OT keep track of you even if you don't sign up for the service? Using your email(s) or name?

I agree totally.The points are nice-but having a printout ressie to hand my boss with the restaurant address and phone,showing her name and number in the party is a great asset.
I only have 3,800 points so far.If I could use it when going out by myself it would be great=but it is a two diner min.
ConciergeMike does the pro version have a single diner option?

Agreed. Unfortunately, customer service in this country has degraded to the point that having something on paper is more of a demand than a perk. :(

Yes it does, but I'm hesitant to use it. Single diners are more often than not comfortable at the bar, and I will usually guide in that direction. Also, I as the concierge have to think of the restaurant as well: while it's nice that I'm referring them a single diner, as one is always better than zero, do they really want to devote a table to a single?

I've used the single option before, but pretty much only when asked to by said guest. I don't even use it for myself should the need arise for it - I go to the bar.

I've been told the restaurant can, within the Open Table settings, determine whether or not to make tables available to solo diners. Indeed, I've many times plugged in "1" then "2" and seen the options change.

I frequently travel alone and don't always enjoy the bar so I appreciate a restaurant willing to accomodate me solo and give me the same level of service I'd receive as a +1 - and since I like fine dining on occasion, its nice to know I can enjoy it properly.

I am in a similar boat since I am on Miami on business travel and pretty much hate the area, I like to enjoy fine dining sometimes but not a fan of bars. I end up going to lesser places because of the snobbish attitude a single diner gets around here. On the other hand some of the lesser places have some great food and a lot cheaper, even found some places with seafood fresh off the boat that it better than the smith and wollensky ;)

I am more of a foodie than an environment person, the food at these places may be better but if I were having a huge business meeting in formal arrangement I would not take someone there, if it were casual and relaxed certainly would.

We're at 9800 points. Just two more stays and we get that $100 off cert. Good stuff. ^

I've seen the same thing when trying to reserve for 3. When I change the number to "4" tables suddenly appear, and this seems widespread, not limited to a few restaurants. Makes it really tempting to reserve for 4 and then show up with 3 instead.

finally cashed in. Even in NYC there arent that many 1000 places for lunch?

Book the reservation with 4 people, then call the restaurant and "downsize" the party.

I have found Opentable to be quite valuable over the years and currently have 8600 pts. I love the features such as "most recent transactions", gayot ratings (which I always check), restaurant weeks listings, links to the restaurants websites, and my favorites. I am a VIP but I have not noticed any benefits. I really appreciate the ability to research a restaurant before hand especially when traveling. I have found that bad food can ruin a vacation.

As far as the 1000 dines go, I have had many and most of them have been great. But recently I went to a couple of restaurants I had never heard of just for the points and the meals were awful. One of the restaurants was completely empty at 7:00 pm. I have two reservations for Smith & Wollensky in Houston for 1000 pts and I have high hopes.

I have one complaint. The french site does not appear to have the ability to translate in english.:td:

i have a friend in manhattan who simply books for four...and shows up with three, saying one couldn't make it. he's convinced he gets a better table this way, and he's probably right.

to the op, i have 1000 points, there just aren't enough restaurants close to me in houston that are on it...but i use opentable when i can...didn't know about the 1000 point dines, i'll have to check that out.

What restaurants are you booking in LAS on opentable.com? I'm looking to make asap my opentable.com reservations for an upcoming LAS trip and am soooo torn.....too many choices and too many disparate reviews on tripadvisor.com